naltrexone

[jojobo]

anyone tried low dose naltrexone for chronic fibro burning pain in shoulder,chest, arms prescribed by my rheumatologist?

[dustybrown]

The medication called Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN), which is usually made at compound pharmacies and not normally available at typical pharmacies is a major topic among those of us with Fibromyalgia, CFS, MS, Crohn's and other autoimmune illnesses. Though you still need a prescription for this medication, MANY doctors do not know what it is, or have any training on what it does or how to prescribe this medication.

The medication Naltrexone itself was originally FDA approved at higher doses to be used to help opiate and alcohol addicts detox off of whichever substance they were abusing. Naltrexone was more recently found to have many beneficial qualities at lower doses that many doctors are not aware of yet.

I have been interested in getting information about it myself and have talked to many already who are having success with it. You can learn more about it by going to this website.

http://www.lowdosenaltrexone.org

[Mtoronto]

I've been on LDN for three months, Rx'd for crohn's related tendon inflammation in my shoulder which caused repeated tears and the joint to freeze. My rheumatologist suggested it as one of her Fibro patients found amazing results from it.

Within a week the radiating pain in my shoulder localized. Three months later my range of motion is improving and I wake to a bit of stiffness pain, that's it.

I began a crohn's flare just prior to taking it, so I'm waiting another month or two for a scope to see you LDN works on that.

The side effects are minimal, odd dreams and disturbed sleep that pass.

While this drug cannot be mixed with opiates, it has a short life in the body about 4 hours. So if you take it at nigh, and have to have a proceedure the next day or the like, opiates are fine. BUT you cannot resume LDN for about 5 days after your last dose of opiate -- depends on how long your on them.

It's best to start at 1.5 milligrams and work up to 4.5 standard dose, keeping in mind you can go a titch higher, factoring metabolism and weight.

I know I would not be able to move as much as I can with this flare of Crohn's if I was not taking it. I'm not taking any of the immune suppressant therapies, I've one left to try, as I"ve yet to respond well to them, sigh.

I 'm hoping LDN will do the thing, if only so not having to try another suppressant and have it fail..

I really do think LDN is worth a try, getting of pain killers being but one small reason.

[fibromama]

I have not,, I take Suboxone which works wonders and know the naltrexone is used mostly for those trying to come off of alchol.  I will tell you that its very important to carry around a card that says your on this medication in case of a emergency medical need,,they would have to treat you different as far as pain med reflief goes.  Are you taking this medication now.